Thames Warrior Scholars To Haka At Unique Protest

Thames Warrior Scholars To Haka At Unique Protest

In a dramatic start to a rally supporting world-wide protest at the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities by the Australian Government, children from Thames South School will perform two haka at3pm Friday 15th May outside Thames Civic Centre, in what has been billed as a world first cultural event, a flashmob fusion haka with didgeridoo.

Assistant Principal at Thames South School, Barbara Hetaraka says, "For the past two weeks we've been learning about the communities in Western Australia and the political stance of Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The forced closure of Aboriginal Communities came to my attention through Facebook, and I'm always seeking learning opportunities that are real and impact on the wellbeing of other indigenous people.

"So we've been trying to encapsulate our thoughts and views into static images that portray what's happening at the moment for the Aboriginal communities. And this protest rally is an opportunity to show our support. It's also about creating public awareness in Thames and further afield through the internet, a way of supporting change in making a provocative stance.

Our aim is to create warrior scholars sound in their cultural identity, making our kids change agents in what's happening in their world here and being connected to indigenous folk world-wide."

In a unique twist, since January former Thames resident, Denise Messiter from Ngati Pukenga ki Waiau, has been living in Kalumburu, the northern most remote community in Western Australia, working with the Aboriginal community at their Strong Women's Centre. Denise says, "We are on the closure list, although the Australian Government is now saying that no such list exists."

The women elders of Kalumburu Strong Women's Group have written a letter, which will be read out at the Thames rally in acknowledgement of the support given by those living in the Hauraki region.

The protest rally will be followed by a 4.30pm special koha screening at Thames Cinema of "Utopia", an epic film by award winning film-maker John Pilger, about a remote outback Aboriginal community. After the film, the audience will be able to talk via the big screen and Skype to Denise Messiter and some of the elders.

ENDS

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